Citing and referencing

academic sources
 Objectives/Contents

Session Objectives:
• What is a reference or citation?
• Examples of citations
• What is a citation or reference style?
• The Harvard Referencing style
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Where to get more information about citing and
referencing

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 What is a reference or citation?

• A way of giving credit for someone's thinking,

writing or research;
• You mark the material when you use it (a citation)
and give the full identification at the end (a
reference);
• In academic writing you are obliged to attribute
every piece of material you use as author.

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Why cite or reference?

• Credit sources of information & ideas;

• Reader can locate for further information if required;

• Validate arguments;

• Increase and spread knowledge;

• Show depth, breadth & quality of your reading!

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 When to cite?

– Direct quotes
– Statistics/Studies
– Theories
– Facts
– Interpretations
– Paraphrases

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Example citation in text –summary

The prologue to Peter Stevens’ (2003) “The Voyage of

the Catalpa” has a strong Irish flavour yet it is clearly
set on the eastern seaboard of the United States of
America.

A study by O'Connor of the CIBA foundation found that

52 scientific journals had used 33 different reference
styles (Garfield, 1986)

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Example of citation in text –
paraphrase
The beautifully refitted and well equipped ship
carried supplies for two years at sea whaling in
the Atlantic (Stevens, 2003).

We all perceive the world around us in ways that

are often unique to us through a series of
personal filters and we 'construct' our own
versions of reality (Kelly, 1955).

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Example of citation in text –
quotation

The conspiratorial tone of the prologue is no

better expressed than in the final line, “Not a
man but ourselves had the least suspicion of her
true mission, and she is well on her way now.”
(Stevens, 2003).

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Another example quote

A recent study (Oshagbemi, 2004) also suggests

that older managers can bring balance to a
management team, as older managers, compared to
younger, consult more widely and favour more
participation, which tends to be well-received by
other staff. Oshagbemi asserts that: "older workers
tend to have a maturity and wisdom that enables
them to anticipate problems and to respond to them
calmly and with confidence".

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 How? Citation or reference style

• A citation style or reference system is a

standardised system for referring to
materials used in your writing;
• There are several different citation styles
developed independently by professional
organisations;
• University Departments generally stipulate
which style to use for your subject 

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 The Harvard Referencing style

• The most commonly used system in college

• Also known as the “author date system”
• There are very specific rules for textual citations
• There are very specific rules for listing your
references at the end of your essay

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Bibliography vs. References

Aren’t both refers to the

same thing?
Yes / No?

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Bibliography vs. References

– Bibliography
• A listing of materials that have been consulted when writing
research work

• It does not matter whether the work has been cited in the
written text or not.

• In doing your research, you might have consulted materials

from websites, books, journals, magazines, white papers and
so on but these might not be included in your written work.

• As long as you have used the material in some way to help

you understand a topic better, for example, you should
include it in the bibliography list.

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Bibliography vs. References

• References
– References are works that you have used directly in your
written work.

– Usually references are used to support your statements

and/or arguments in your written work.

– As compared to bibliography, the bibliography are not cited

directly in the text.

– References are used for establishing something in an

authoritative way where readers can look up the
referenced materials and evaluate the correctness of your
statement(s) or argument(s).

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 References or Bibliography

• “Bibliography” and “References”;

• The conventions of your subject will determine
which term you use;
• In the Harvard system, references are listed
alphabetically;
• There is a double space between references;

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Citation listed in ‘References’

Book:
Stevens, P. (2003) The Voyage of the
Catalpa: A Perilous Journey and Six Irish
Rebels’ Escape to Freedom. London:
Weidenfeld and Nicolson.

Harvard
Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation
 Citation listed in a ‘References’

Journal article
Stevens, P. (2003) ‘The Voyage of the
Catalpa: A Perilous Journey and Six Irish
Rebels’ Escape to Freedom’. Irish Journal
of Social History 50 (2) 34-42.

– The “Irish Journal of Social History” is fictitious

and for this example only

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Avoiding plagiarism

• The availability of text in digital form increases

the possibility of accidentally using someone
else's material without acknowledgement
• Make sure you record all the details of the
material you make notes on at the time so that
you know who’s it is later
• By all means use quotes and paraphrased
material but cite it properly

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Further information

• http://www.tcd.ie/Library/support/referencing.php
• http://www.coventry.ac.uk/caw
• http://www.cite.auckland.ac.nz

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation

 Question and Answer Session

Q&A

Research Methods in Computing and Technology Referencing and Citation